NFL 2012

[Segoris]

No, but there's a major difference here. If they push the morning games on the west coast to a later time, then the second game would interfere with the NBC Sunday night game which is absolutely huge for popularity and revenue (is my understanding). However, if they push the games in London to a night game at all times, then it's a night game in London and a day time game in the US. Yes, the west coast has it a bit rougher trying to play/watch the morning game, but I don't think it's as major of a disadvantage as you're making it to be as they also have it easier watching/playing the night games.

[WayAbvPar]

The morning games aren't on the West Coast, they are on the East Coast. My contention is that when a WC team plays IN those games (on the road, in the morning), they are at a disadvantage. Turns out I am not the only one who has noticed-

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d8286246e/Football-Freakonomics-Body-clock

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/content/discomfort-zone-impact-travel-nfl-games/14372/

I am sure the London games would kick off at 9:15PM GMT or something like that, which would sync them with the late day games on the regular schedule. Still a giant pain in the ass for 2 teams, and an even bigger pain if one or both is from the Pacific Time Zone.

I am seriously baffled as to why 2 East Coast teams can play a game at 4pm local time, but more often than not the WC visitor has to play at 10AM. I am sure TV has something to do with it, but the NFL could easily dictate this change with a very minimum of interruption.

[Tannhauser]

Is there really a pent up demand for an NFL team in London?  Any Euro friends here care to weigh in?

[Paelos]

I am seriously baffled as to why 2 East Coast teams can play a game at 4pm local time, but more often than not the WC visitor has to play at 10AM. I am sure TV has something to do with it, but the NFL could easily dictate this change with a very minimum of interruption.

You would be right. TV is responsible. The 4PM and later slots are usually reserved for matchups that can be played nationally, or have playoff implications. The 1PM slots are where the majority of the scrub games go. Outside of the 49ers last year, the rest of the Western Division teams in both leagues were complete ass to watch. In fact, I'm trying to think back to when the Western divisions produced a wild card (AFC or NFC). Let's find out!

Looks like it was Kansas City in 2006 with a 9-7 tiebreaker against the Broncos. So yeah, if those division can put together a remotely watchable product, they will get the 4PM slot. Otherwise, it's going to the NFC East, the AFC North, or whichever team Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers happen to play that week.

[WayAbvPar]

So let's keep them at a competitive disadvantage! That will certainly help. 

[Segoris]

No one likes them anywayas, it's fine

[Paelos]

So let's keep them at a competitive disadvantage! That will certainly help. 

To be fair, the Denver thing with Tebow got a ton of press and 4PM games last year.

Monday night games had Oakland @ Denver week 1, SD @ KC Week 8, SD @ Jacksonville Week 13, St Louis @ Seattle Week 14, & Pitt @ SF Week 15,

That's a lot of MNF.

[ghost]

Good god, Pete Carroll is a fucking retard. 

[Cyrrex]

Good god, Pete Carroll is a fucking retard. 

While he is indeed a retard, I'm not sure I have a problem with what he is doing here.  Flynn's elbow is bugging him, and Wilson has been playing lights out, so why not roll the dice.  Flynn has proved absolutely nothing, in my opinion (even if I am hopefully that he ultimately will).

[01101010]

I for one hope to hell that Wilson starts and gets them into the playoffs. That would be a nice big FUCK YOU to everyone thinking you need to be this tall to ride the starting QB position unless you are named Brees.

[Cyrrex]

I for one hope to hell that Wilson starts and gets them into the playoffs. That would be a nice big FUCK YOU to everyone thinking you need to be this tall to ride the starting QB position unless you are named Brees.

Short dudes unite!

[Nebu]

I for one hope to hell that Wilson starts and gets them into the playoffs. That would be a nice big FUCK YOU to everyone thinking you need to be this tall to ride the starting QB position unless you are named Brees.

You miss Doug Flutie, admit it!

[ghost]

Good god, Pete Carroll is a fucking retard. 

While he is indeed a retard, I'm not sure I have a problem with what he is doing here.  Flynn's elbow is bugging him, and Wilson has been playing lights out, so why not roll the dice.  Flynn has proved absolutely nothing, in my opinion (even if I am hopefully that he ultimately will).

Let's just say that Wilson's the guy.  The NFL isn't a league where you just throw guys in and have them do well unless they're Peyton Manning.  It's not a common occurrence.  I would prefer to ease my QB of the future into that role a little slower, because we all know NFL preseason games are just a notch above the Pro Bowl in competitiveness.

[WayAbvPar]

I will say that Wilson has done nothing but impress so far. However, we have played 2 terrible teams and one so so team so far, and he only played against the backups for the first two. He has a surprisingly good arm, is nimble as fuck, and makes good, quick decisions. He will definitely struggle when teams start game planning against him and defenses do more to disguise what they are doing. That being said- Flynn has been fine, but is dinged up, and Wilson has outplayed him (slightly, imo).

Thank FSM TO fucked off, and LMAO @ them finding a taker for TJack. He was gonna be free in about 10 days, but if the Bills want to send a pick over, that is just fine by me.


3 drafts over the weekend, one more (quick online, thankfully) to go tonight. I am burned out on FF and the season hasn't even started! Seattle D looks really good. They were first off the board in 2/3 (3rd was a keeper league and I kept the SF D as one of my 3 keepers, which shows you the vomity depth I had...still made the playoffs though!). That is obviously skewed because I was drafting with groups primarily made up of Seahawks fans, but still- they should probably be a top 3 D at worst. Tons of turnovers, stingy on points, and Leon Washington is always a threat to score on kick returns.

[Paelos]

Turns out that now both QBs from one of the best national championship games I've ever watched (USC v. Texas) have turned to complete shit. Vince Young was ditched by the Bills for Tavaris Jackson. That's gotta be a new low.

Oh and Matt Leinart is now a 3rd string backup to a 32 year old QB that got rejected by the Bungles.

[ghost]

My issue with Wilson is that he is tiny.  The first time he scrambles against a for real defense he's going to get his head stuck up his ass.  He obviously had a decent arm in college, but so does Flynn.  I'll be surprised to see Wilson starting by Christmas.

[shiznitz]

The pre-season means shit.  I am just surprised to see a coach not understanding that.

[Trippy]

Matt Flynn has a bad elbow. Not sure what else Carroll could do *but* start Wilson.

[Paelos]

Matt Flynn has a bad elbow. Not sure what else Carroll could do *but* start Wilson.

He could start a man on a unicycle. That would fit with the team motif so far.

[ghost]

He could start a man on a unicycle in a clown suit. That would fit with the team motif so far.

[HaemishM]

Turns out that now both QBs from one of the best national championship games I've ever watched (USC v. Texas) have turned to complete shit. Vince Young was ditched by the Bills for Tavaris Jackson. That's gotta be a new low.

It really fucking does. When "all you do is win" gets trumped by "well, he couldn't throw worth shit with Adrian Peterson running behind him, but he's breathing," your career is fucking over.

Also, I predict Russell Wilson won't be the starter by week 4 unless Flynn's elbow falls the fuck off.

[ghost]

Vince Young is probably done, I would imagine. 

[Tannhauser]

Which is a shame.  He was the prototypical modern QB but he was a delicate flower even before his mentor was, you know, murdered.  Maybe someday we'll find out why he's such a headcase.

[ghost]

I don't think he's necessarily a headcase, I just think he likes to party. 

[Paelos]

Bah wrong thread. Taunting Haemish in the wrong place.

[Sir T]

Sorry to interrupt, but I've started watching a bit of American football, and I don't have a clue about what I'm looking at. Can anyone point me at a good idiots giude to american football website? Thanks

[ghost]

This seems like a reasonably short read on the subject. 

The Wikipedia article on it isn't too bad either. 

[01101010]

Sorry to interrupt, but I've started watching a bit of American football, and I don't have a clue about what I'm looking at. Can anyone point me at a good idiots giude to american football website? Thanks

Trick is to watch with someone who already knows. That is how we are indoctrinated here... Dads, Uncles, Grandfathers, and sometimes the women-folk will chime in with opinions and descriptions - and as long as their teams are winning, they are usually open to questions. How I know anything about football being a Browns fan is beyond me; other than the brief span of decent seasons in the 80s.

[Nebu]

WARNING! Most Americans think that they understand football... few actually do.  It's like soccer in that the game is MUCH deeper than it appears on the surface.  

[Malakili]

Sorry to interrupt, but I've started watching a bit of American football, and I don't have a clue about what I'm looking at. Can anyone point me at a good idiots giude to american football website? Thanks

Do you have any specific questions?  I am not the most knowledgeable person about the game (never played as a kid or anything), but I'll certainly try to answer any questions if I can. 

[01101010]

WARNING! Most Americans think that they understand football... few actually do.  It's like soccer in that the game is MUCH deeper than it appears on the surface.  

Well yeah... but who cares? It is THE American sport's spectacle...we don't need to understand it to enjoy bitching about it. 

But I do agree with you. 

[Draegan]

Soccer does not have the depth that football.

In any case, once you have the basics down about the game get this book:

http://www.patkirwan.com/

Example: http://www.patkirwan.com/play-diagrams/most-effective-personnel-group-most-effective-formation-right-now-nfl

[Nebu]

Soccer does not have the depth that football.

Where did someone say this? 

[WayAbvPar]

I love soccer, but it isn't as complex as American football. It is FAR more complex than it appears on the surface, however. It is just that handegg is even more complicated than it appears.

[cmlancas]

Play a season of Blood Bowl.  It's about the same, I promise!